Close your eyes and imagine you're in a little wine bar, down the side street of an ancient Portugese town. Walls are carved of rough stone, wooden chairs are tucked under rustic tables and you have the full attention of an attentive host, who knows everything there is to know about Portugese wine.
Well, while this experience sounds exclusively exotic, it might not be. Indeed, under a railway arch in London Bridge, Pedro's Wine Bar offers an authentic and seemingly as dreamy experience for wine lovers in South London. The small space is stylishly quaint, with a side of ramshackle - in just the right way. On the ground floor you'll find a mix of small tables and chairs, while above a mezzanine offers a seperate space to dine or drink. Walls are often decorated with bottles, so that you can buy your favourite tipple to enjoy at home, too.
The menu is, predictably, full of traditonal Portguese flavours and starts with a selection of snacks for the table. Indulge in Pata Negra, slices from one of the most expensive hams in the world, originating from Portugal and Spain, complemented with black olives (a classic Portuguese treat) and sourdough toast with creamy burrata.
Or, why not order a platter to share? Pedro's Wine Bar offers a selection of layered plates ranging from hand sliced charcuterie with Serrano ham, salame toscano and chorizo, to the four Portuguese cheeses plate, served with walnuts and chutney or jam. Follow with a warm main dish such as Bifana, which is sliced pork slow cooked in white wine and served on a toasted Portuguese white bun, or perhaps Gambas a Navalheiro which sees fried peeled prawns cooked with garlic, wine, chillies and spices.
Finally, a trip to Pedro's, of course, wouldn't be complete without a long gander at the wine list. We suggest asking your server for their advice, or trying the wine of the week which always offers something new.